Sonic CD on Gems Collection is a near-perfect port of the original. Obviously, everything has been kept the same. It looks and sounds better than most Sonic games, due to enhanced graphic and audio effects afforded by the CD peripheral. Plus, there's that groovy animated intro and awesome soundtrack that helped solidify Sonic CD as one of the best games in the Sonic series. Fans of the original will definitely enjoy playing through it again, even if it's just for nostalgia. Bottom line is that it's still just as fun as it ever was. And in case you missed it, it's a great example of a Sonic (and Sega CD) title done right.

Sonic R, while lacking the finely-tuned mechanics of Sonic CD, has its own appeal. To start, it's not a straightforward driving game. Sonic and friends don't jump into a series of karts and throttle down the track. Instead, most everyone in the game runs. Sonic, of course, runs, as does Tails and Knuckles. Amy and Dr. Eggman, on the other hand, cheat and use vehicles. Characters raced down the track, through hoops and turns, collecting rings and power-ups. The objective was to reach the finish line first, obviously, but also to find ways of collecting as much stuff, be it Sonic Tokens, Chaos Emeralds or Rings, before taking first place. This involved finding all manners of shortcuts and secret detours by deviating from the established tracks.

Sonic R represented a funky mixture of good ideas and poor implementation. Collecting stuff is fun if you like that kind of thing, and racing too. But if a game's main appeal is racing (or just driving for that matter) it had better control well. And that's where Sonic R drops the ball. It features a cast of characters racing on foot but adopts a traditional driving mechanics. As a result, the game just controls funny. Still, it's pretty fun and boasts truly unique soundtrack. And if you liked it the original on the Sega Saturn, there's a good chance you'll like this version. But don't expect any improvements to gameplay with the new version.

Lastly, Sonic the Fighters plays like a streamlined version of the original Virtua Fighter. Players could select from Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy, as well as Fang, Bean, Espio and Bark. Most people won't recognize the second half of that list, unless they're totally in love with Sonic the Fighters. And honestly, only people totally in love with Sonic will get the most out of this game. Not that it's a terrible fighter, mind you, only that it's a very simple one. If you're expecting a wide assortment of moves and 200-hit combos, prepare to be disappointed. The selection of playable characters isn't too shabby, but each character's list of moves leaves something to be desired... like better moves.

Each character features around eight techniques, along with a punch, kick and barrier. Characters can also trigger Hyper Mode, which strengthens attacks and reveals "secret" moves. And that really is about it. During fights, it's far too easy to use one or two moves to squash most opponents, and the lack of intricate combos doesn't help matters. Regarding visuals and sound, the game looked pretty decent at the time but doesn't look so hot now, of course.

The Side Dishes

In addition to the three main titles, Gems Collection includes six Game Gear games, including: Tails' Sky Patrol, Tails Adventures, Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, Sonic Drift 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic Pinball. None of these games were particularly stellar to begin with, but it's cool to see them all on one disk. Still, none of these games looks good on a large TV screen. You can actually switch between two different view modes, but opting for the "original" perspective shrinks the screen considerably while blowing it up plain looks bad.

Then again, if you're the type of gamer who loved these games on the Game Gear, then maybe you want to play them again. Even still, you'd probably be better off dusting your old handheld and finding those old games. Sure, the Game Gear offerings present an array of gameplay experiences from platforming to pinball, but none is exceptional. Each should be considered as a bonus or supplement to the main three games only.

The two unlockable games in Gems Collection, Vecorman and Vectorman 2, both feature awesome gameplay. Unlike the Game Gear titles, the Vectorman series represents the pinnacle of 16-bit gaming. They looked and played great when they first hit the marketplace in the mid 90s, and the thankfully the latter remains true today. Combining awesome boss battles and action sequences with brilliant platforming elements, both Vectorman and its sequel are worth playing through again.

The Verdict

In the end, Sonic Gems Collection is a decent compilation, even though it&#Array;s not as solid as Sonic Mega Collection. At a bargain price of 29 bucks, however, Sonic CD and Vectorman 1 and 2 make for a worthy purchase for fans or anyone who may have missed them the first time around. As for the Game Gear titles, certain gamers will see the appeal but many will not. Rent this one if you&#Array;re unsure.